The Boats!
Photo essay of boats entered into the 2001 Merrimack Library Cardboard Boat Festival!

So, just what DOES a cardboard boat look like?  Would you beleive, a Kayak?   A Riverboat? A Lobster boat?  Well, of course you would!  How about a Guitar?  VW Beetle?  Starship?  Well!  Add to that list dragons, sharks and many more and you have an idea of what a cardboard boat race, at least in Merrimack, NH, is all about!

This is my 4th (out of 6) years that I've been involved in this race.  My first year I was here as a participant.   My second year as an excited participant, with a much more involved boat.   Last year I volunteered to help with the days activities and this year I was co-hort in crime with Pat Heinrich, having taken over the load from Bruce and Sue Luhrs (how DID you two do this?? man, I am tired today...) 

In the photo's below, I tried to capture every boat, with its crew when I could.  If I missed a boat, I am sorry.   If you see your boat here and would like a full sized image, feel free to send me an email and identify the picture you would like a copy of (provide me with the filename of the picture in question) and I will email them back to you.  The originals are all 1600 X 1200 high resolution digital pictures.

Click here to go to the Merrimack Library 2002 Cardboard Boat Festival page!

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Enjoy!

Photo's from Race Day!
Thumbnail		Description
		A dragon to win the hearts of all beleivers!
		Dragons were popular this year!   This boat was designed and built by a team who designs corugated cardboard boxes and such.
		The Merrimack Belle.  What can I say.  Ken Coleman and I did ourselves proud with this boat.  Not only did she perform well enough for 3rd place, last year, with a broken paddle, but she survived winter storage and with a repaired paddle, went on to take 1st place.
		The Dread-Not boat built by my daughter (Jennifer) and son (Joe), also running her second year.  This boat is a business entry, sponsored by Harvey's Music on the Oval in Milford.  Jason (proprietor of Harvey's) was so impressed with its 1st place win last year (with Jen at the helm) that he decided that he wanted to captain her this year!
		PT140-8, reminded me of McHale's Navy!  An enthusiastic crew awaits the charge to go to sea!
		A flat top boat that turns in a fine time with a smooth cutting profile
		A kayak, promising a swift cut through the water
		Captain Kirk, to the bridge! Captain Kirk, to the bridge! ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!  Man, you could almost HEAR the bells and whistles of the bridge going off in the background when you were near this unique boat
		A family 3-fer, a new shark (we also had a shark last year and, i beleive, the year befor - and they just keep getting better and better!), a camoflaged boat and another kayak.
		Dragons, dragons, everywhere!   A wonderful theme for cardboard boats!
		Shoot, this thing would look perfect with a 500hp merc sitting on her tail!  A beautiful example of just how cleanly you can form cardboard into the shape you want!
		No lobster shortage for this new england town, that's for sure!  Complete with lobster traps, bouyes and even lobster!
		Ok, now for this one, tilt your head all the way around till it's upside down... There, now doesn't that look better??   This new crew had just finished painting their entry and had to keep it upside down till the paint dried.  Now that is cutting it to the last minute!
		This is a.., well, it's a..., hmmm... ...it's a boat!  Big'un too!
		Ya gotta love a good sense of humor!  This ACME boat, complete with Wile Cyote and a smokin' rocket was a sight to behold!
		Another view of the lobster boat showing her lobster trap with a patriotic lobster caught!
		Big and small, cardboard boats come in all sizes!
		Another view of that family group of 3 boats showing the camo boat and the kayak again.
		And here's a closeup view of the Shark with lunch nearly complete!
		Battle ships of several sorts were also popular this year with this aircraft carrier
		The boat of a magician waits for her time in the water!
		Look!  Across the field!   It's a car!  It's a boat!  It's a car-boat!  Beautiful job too!

Return to Festival 2001 | DreadNot Photo Essay | Belle Photo Essay | The Races! | Other Activities

Race Results, Festival 2001

Copyright, ©1998, James M. Flis